J. Corey Francis

J. Corey Francis currently serves the Director of Athletic Bands at Indiana State University. Prior to this appointment he was a Doctoral Conducting Associate and Graduate Teaching Assistant at The University of Southern Mississippi, where he studies with Thomas V. Fraschillo. In this position he was assistant conductor of the Wind Ensemble, drill designer and arranger for the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, and taught undergraduate conducting courses. He holds a Master of Music degree in Wind Band Conducting from Georgia State University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Murray State University (KY).

Prior to his arrival to USM, Mr. Francis served as Director of Pep Bands at Georgia State University. Under his direction, the Pep Bands earned the acclaim and praise of officials from the Colonial Athletic Association, as well as the administration and alumni of Georgia State University. Additionally, Mr. Francis served on the staffs of Alpharetta (GA) High School (2004-2009) and Taylor County (KY) Schools (2002-2004).

As a conductor, Mr. Francis’s enjoys working on contemporary and traditional masterworks of the Wind Band and Chamber Winds. Current projects include conducting and lecturing on Ecstatic Waters by Steven Bryant, and completing his dissertation on Jonathan Newman’s Symphony No. 1: My Hands are a City. Mr. Francis’s focus on energetic and musical performances has led him to become an active clinician and guest conductor. His article “Creating a Expressive Gesture Palette” is due for publication in the March 2011 issue of “The Instrumentalist.”

Mr. Francis is an active marching band drill designer for schools in the Southern US.

Mr. Francis holds membership in the National Band Association, The Collegiate Band Director’s National Association, the College Music Society, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

D.M. (ABD) University of Southern Mississippi; M.M. Georgia State University; B.M. Murray State University.